Method of constructing cylinders



March 3, 1942. KOCH J 2,274,835

METHOD OF GONSTRUCTING CYLINDERS Filed Aug. 9, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet l 47 11v VENTOR TTORNE Y5:

March 3, 1942. I H I 2,274,835

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING CYLINDERS Filed Aug. 9, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet; 2

INVENTOR 'eol'ge 7 4 06},

March'3, 1942. G. T. KOCH 2,274,835

METHOD OF CONSTRUGTING CYLINDERS Filed Aug. 9, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 A IN. VENTOR 9 A TTORNE Y5.

March 3, 1942. G] KOCH 2,274,835"

' METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING CYLINDERS Filed Aug. 9, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR $607192? 7 /yoc%.

Patented Mar. 3,

METHOD or CONSTRUCTING cnnvbans George '1. Koch, Detroit, Mich, assignor to The Murray Corporation of America, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware 7 Claims.

My invention relates to a method of constructing cylinders, and particularly to a method of constructing a cylinder of sheet metal having the sides projected inwardly at spaced points to provide tumbling ribs for clothes when the cylinder is employed as the rotor of a washing machine.

While various types of cylinders have been employed heretofore in the art of washing machines,

the cylinder constructed in accordance with my present method is employed as a rotor in a washing machine having a single bearing support at one end. The opposite end of the cylinder is enclosed by a washer-like disc providing ,a central opening to the rotor through which the clothes to be washed may be inserted. The cylinder is drawn from a fiat sheet of metal into cup-shape with the base dished inwardly to provide a support for the stub shaft secured thereto.

The walls of the cylinder are deflected inwardly at spaced points to provide clothes tumbling ribs. These ribs are formed by drawing a portion of the metal outwardly while the portion near the base is deflected inwardly. In a further drawing operation the material is progressively moved inwardly until in a third striking operation the complete rib is formed and the metal at the open end adjacent to the end of the ribs is worked back into cylindrical form. Thereafter the flange is trimmed at the edge of the cylinder and a flanged washer-like disc is inserted over the open end and welded or otherwise secured thereto.

Accordingly, the main objects of my invention are; to form a cylinder from a sheet of metal by a method which draws metal from the side wall outwardly at spaced points and inwardly at the base which is thereafter re-worked in other dies to completely form inwardly projecting ribs; to form a cylindrical cup in a set of dies having a dished-in bottom with spaced ribs partly deflected inwardly and partly outwardly and with a flange at the open end, of further striking the rib portion in a second set of dies to deflect them further inwardly and to gather the material thereof near the flange; of completely forming a third set of dies, the inwardly directed ribs and completing the circular wall adjacent to the mouth of the cylinder, and thereafter shearing the flange; to progressively form a sheet of material into a cylinder having a dish-body, spaced inwardly projected ribs and a circular opening, and thereafter forming out rows of apertures in the cylinder wall, and further finishing the cylinder by applying a head thereto having a flange Application August 9, 1939, Serial No. 289,254

extending over the edge of the opening; to punch a plurality of holes in the wall of the cylinder, draw the metal thereabout outwardly of the base metal, and thereafter coining the holes thus formed to desired shape and size; and in general, to provide arnethod of forming a cylinder for a washingmachine which is uniform and balanced and which is simple in construction and economical of manufacture.

Other objects and features of novelty of my invention will be specifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of my -invention,.to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a broken perspective view of a washing machine having a rotor therein embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a broken sectional view of the rotor constructed in accordance with the method of my invention;

Fig. 3 is a View of a sheet of material rectangular in shape, having the corners out therefrom, from which the cylinder is drawn;

. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the set of dies in which the sheet illustrated in Fig. 3 is first drawn;

Fig. 5 is an inverted perspective view of the formed sheet as removed from the dies illustrated in Fig. 4;

/ Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the struc ture illustrated in Fig. 5, taken on the line 66 thereof;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view of a set of dies which receive and further draw the metal of the cylinder illustrated in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged broken sectional view of the cylinder as formed in the dies illustrated in Fig. '7, taken on the line 8-8 thereof;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged broken sectional view of the cylinder as drawn in the dies illustrated in Fig. 7, taken on the line 99 thereof;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged broken sectional view of the cylinder as drawn in the dies illustrated in Fig. 7, taken on the line ill-l0 thereof;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of a third set of dies in which the cylinder as formed in the dies illustrated in Fig. 7 is further drawn;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional view of the cylinder as formed in.the dies illustrated in Fig.

ing and forming dies employed'to form a plurality of rows of apertures in the wall of the cylinder illustrated in Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view of a set of dies and punches employed to coin the apertures formed by the structure illustrated in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged sectional view of a row of the apertures as coined in the device illustrate in Fig. 15;

.Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the cylinder as illustrated in Fig. 13 with the rows of apertures formed therein; and

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the cylinder as completely drawn with the bottom flange removed therefrom.

In Fig. 1, I have illustrated the washing machine of the cabinet type, the outer enclosure 20 of which is provided with a hinged door 2| through which clothes are inserted to within a rotor 22 which is rotated within a tub 23. The rotor 22 as illustrated in section in Fig. 2, embodies a cylinder 24 of cup-shape having a dished bottom in which bracing rings 26 and 21 are welded to provide spaced supports for the stub shaft 28 forming the sole support for the rotor.

As spaced points, herein illustrated as four (4) in number, the metal of the wall of the cylinder 24 is deflected inwardly at 29 to form inwardly projecting ribs employed for the purpose of tumbling the clothes as the rotor is revolved. The opposite end of the rotor from that having the dished bottom is enclosed by a washer-like plate 3| having a flange 32 at its edge which projects over the end of the cylinder and is welded or otherwise secured thereto. The inner marginal edge 33 of the aperture 34 of the plate 3| is rolled to produce a smooth edge.

In Fig. 3, I have illustrated a blank sheet of metal 35, substantially square in shape with the corner cut away at 36 to eliminate excess material.

In Fig. 4, I have illustrated a set of dies 31 in which the major forming operation on the is restruck. In this arrangement the male die 55 is supported upon the bed 51 of the machine while the female die 58 is carried by the plunger 59. A

gripping plate 6| is supported on rods 60 project+ ing through the female die portion 58 and is moved upwardly with the die portion a predeter-' mined amount, substantially to the top of the die 55. The die portion 58 moves upwardly sufficiently to clear the plate 6| and the male die portion 55.

The cylindrical element, as illustrated in Fig. 5, is then placed over the male die portion 55 having the flange 5| thereof resting on the plate 6|. On the downward movement of plunger 53 the gripping plate 82 of the die 58 engages the flange 5| and carries the cylinder downwardly therewith over the male die 55. Plungers 63 project through the bed 51 and are engaged by the downwardly moving plate 6| to add additional gripping force to the plate to retain the flange 5| clamped between the plates GI and 52. The plungers 53 may be spring-pressed or may operate against fluid pressure in cylinders, not herein illustrated.

The restriking operation in the dies 55 produces the working of the metal in the projecting portion 52 and the recessed portion 53 to reform the metal thereof as another step in forming the ribs 29. It will be noted from the sections of Figs. 8, 9, and 10, that the metal of the outwardly projecting portion 52 is folded inwardly at 64 in continuation of the recessed portion 53 at the base of the cylinder. At the open end of the cylinder,

sheet 35 occurs. The male portion of thedie embodies a plate 38 having an aperture 39 conforming to the shape of the cylinder to be formed. A plunger 4| is relatively movable in the aperture having guide elements 42 operating in guideways 43. The female portion of the die embodies a base 44 carrying a. plate 45 having an aperture 46 therein the shape of the aperture 39 but slightly larger to accommodate the thickness of the sheet 35 to be drawn. Within the opening, a downwardly movable member 41 is provided having guides 48 operating in guideways 49.

When the sheet of material 35 has been placed upon the plate 45, the plunger 4| and plate 38 moves downwardly with the plate 38 moving ahead of the bottom of the plunger 4| to first engage the edge 5| of the sheet which forms a flange as the sheet'is held between the plates 38 and 45. The plunger 4| continues to move down wardly and thereby draws the portion of the sheet within the flange 5| to the shape of the plunger and the complementary shape of the die portion 41. In Figs. 5 and 6, I have illustrated the formation of the sheet after being drawn within the pair of dies 31. The bottom 25 is dished while the portions 52 forming the ribs 29 are drawn outwardly and a portion of the length drawn inwardly at 53 adjacent to the bottom 25. projecting corners 36 of the sheet are aligned with the projections 52 to provide additional metal for the drawing operation.

In Fig. '1, I have illustrated a further set of dies 55 in which the cylinder from the dies 31 The.

downwardly thereover.

as illustrated in Fig. 10, the inwardly deflected portion is folded inwardly a lesser amount since at this point it is desired to further form the metal to provide acylindrical edge.

A third set of dies 65 produces the final forming operation on the projections and the wall at the open end of the cylinder. The male portion 51 of the die is supported on the base of the press while the female portion 68 is movable The reworked cylinder as received from the dies 55 is placed over the male die 61 and the female die is moved down wardly thereover to produce the final forming of the ribs 29 and the cylindrical wall 1| at the open end of the cylinder. In Fig. 11, I have illus trated the ribs 29 in section to illustrate the formation thereof throughout the length of the cylinder substantially to the short wall portion 1| thereof. e

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the peripheral wall portions 13 ofthe cylinder between the ribs 29 are provided with rows of holes 10 for the passage of the wash and rinse water and for the water from the clothes when spin drying. Referring to Fig. 14, a pair of dies 14 and 15 are illustrated, employed for punching the holes in the wall portions. A plurality of punches 18 are mounted in rows having punching heads 11 which project into apertures 18 of forming dies 19. The forming dies have heads 8| which project within the apertures 82in the dies 15. After the cylinder is positioned upon the die 14, the die 15 is moved downwardly to have the punching head 11 first punch holes in the metal after which the heads 8| flange the metal about the holes against the wallsof the apertures 82.

.A positioning finger 83 is forced upwardly by a spring 84 employed for positioning the wall portions relative to the punches and dies to have the rows of holes aligned and disposed a predetermined distance from the rows of holes struck prior thereto. For. completing the striking of the rows of holes in each of the panel portions 13, the dies are operated four times making twelve operations in all to fill all four portions 13 with the rows of holes.

After the holes are formed in this manner, the cylinder is removed from the dies 14 and 15 and moved to the dies 84 and 85 as illustrated in Fig. 15. Herein a finger 86 positions the wall portions 13 of the cylinders relative to coining tools 81 which accurately coins the flanges about the hole to predetermined size and shape. This is illustrated in enlarged section in Fig. '15. After the hole punching, fianging, and coining operations are completed, the cylinder is now in the form illustrated in Fig. 17. Thereafter the flange i about the open end of the cylinder is sheared therefrom, as illustrated in Fig. 18, and the operations on the cylinder are completed.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a unique method of forming a cylinder for a washportions of the outwardly directed portions inwardly, further restriking the cup in additional dies to complete the inward drawing of the outwardly directed portions to form ribs inwardly of the peripheral surface of the cup, and forming the outwardly directed metal at the open end of the cylinder into the plane of the cylinder, and thereafter-shearing the flanged portion of the cylinder cup therefrom. A

3. The method of forming a cylindrical cup from a sheet of metal, including the steps of, first drawing a sheet of metal into cup-shape with portions projecting outwardly at spaced points beyond the peripheral wall thereof and extending to the open end thereof, of 'restriking the spaced projecting portions to move the central areas thereof inwardly and thereafter further restriking the projecting portions to deflect them entirely inwardly of the peripheral wall to form inwardly projecting ribs, and moving during the two restriking operations the projecting portions formed ribs thereon and a plurality of rows of apertures of predetermined form and size on the peripheral portions between the ribs. A sheet of material of predetermined shape is clamped within a first set of dies which are brought together to form the cylinder substantially to shape.

Spaced rib portions of the cylinder are formed outwardly a majority of the length andinwardly at the base edge portion of the cylinder. The

cylinder is then moved to a first set of restrikis sheared therefrom, completing the final oper-- ation of the method steps in the cylinder formation.

While I have described and illustrated but a single embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, omissions, additions',,and substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as set forth in the accompanying claims.

. I claim as my invention:

1. The method of forming a cylindrical cup including the steps of, gripping the edge of a sheet of metal and shaping the cup to predetermined form having spaced outwardly directed metal portions extending to the open end of the cylinder, restriking the cup in additional dies which moves certain portions of the outwardly directed portions inwardly, further restriking the cup in additional dies to complete the inward drawing of the outwardly directed portions to form ribs inwardly of the peripheral surface of the cup, and forming the outwardly directed metal at the open end of the cylinder intothe plane of the cylinder.

2. The method of forming a cylindrical cup including the steps of, gripping the edge of a sheet of metal and shaping the cup to predeterminedform having spaced outwardly directed metal portions extending to the open end of the cylinder and having an end flange, restriking the cup in additional dies which moves certain at the marginal edge inwardly to conform to the shape of the cylinder to provide a cylindrical edge.

4. The method of forming a cylinder from a sheet of metal which includes the steps of, en-- gaging the peripheral edge of the metal, drawing the metal inwardly thereof into cup-shape with spaced portions drawn outwardly of the cylindrical wall and extending to the open end thereof, of restriking the drawn out portions to move areas thereof inwardly, and of further restriking the drawn outportions to completely move them inwardly of the cylindrical wall except at the marginaledge where the portions are movedinto the plane of the cylindrical wall to provide a cylindrical edge.

5. The method of forming acylinder including the steps of, gripping the edge of the'sheet, of drawing the metal inwardly thereof into cupshape while having spaced portions formed inwardly at the base of the cup and outwardly therefrom to the edge of the cup, restriking the formed portions to move areas thereof inwardly, and further restriking said portions to have them project inwardly of the cylindrical wall except at the marginal edge which is moved-into the plane of the cylinder to form a circular edge.

6. The method of forming a cylinder from a sheet of metal which includes the steps of, engaging the peripheral edge of the metal, drawing the metal inwardly thereof into cup-shape with spaced portions drawn outwardly of the cylindrical-walland extending to the open end thereof, of restriking the drawn out portions to move areas thereof inwardly, of further restriking the drawn out portions to completely move them inwardly of the cylindrical wall except at the marginal edge where the portions are moved. into the plane of the cylindrical wall to provide a cylindrical edge, and shearing the peripheral edge of the metal thereafter.

7. The method of forming a cylinder cup from a sheet of metal which includes the steps of first drawing a sheet of metal into cup shape with spaced portions projecting outwardly in continuation of portions which are inwardly directedat the marginal edge of the cup bottom, and

thereafter ironing the inwardly and outwardly directed metal in a direction parallel to theaxis 

